Staffroom Catch-up: David Britten , Prendergast Ladywell School

We've been catching up with teachers across the UK about their experiences with Eduqas. David Britten, Humanities Faculty Leader and Head of Geography at Prendergast Ladywell School, London, leads a team of nine teachers, teaching around 180 learners per year group, and has used Eduqas for 15 years. Here's his experience:

What made you choose Eduqas as your exam board?

I was first introduced to Eduqas at my previous school, where we decided to switch exam boards. From the outset, I found the Eduqas Geography 'A' Specification to be highly engaging and accessible for our students.

When I later joined my current school, the Eduqas 'B' Specification was in use. However, after my first year, I switched to 'A', as I knew it well. This change was well-received by the school, as evidenced by improved exam results. 

Since adopting Specification A, geography’s popularity at GCSE has increased. In my first year, there was just one GCSE class with 17 students. Now, it’s the most popular non-core subject, with four Year 11 classes, each ranging from 25 to 30 students. I attribute this growth to the appeal of the Eduqas specification, particularly the topical content in optional themes 3 and 7, which resonate strongly with both students and parents.

How do your learners respond to the Eduqas specification?

Students who choose Geography at GCSE do so due to the content taught. The blend of classic geographical themes, such as fluvial and coastal geomorphology, mixed with contemporary topics such as child labour and enclave tourism, make Geography a subject students want to learn.

In addition, the fieldwork section of the GCSE, assessed as a separate examination, is one of the main reasons why Geography is selected. Studying in the field and taking learning outside of the classroom is always a popular unit in the GCSE course.

What’s been the best thing for you about teaching with Eduqas so far?

The best thing about teaching with Eduqas is the direct links you make with the Regional Support Team. Ant Fleming, my Regional Representative for Geography, is always available when I require advice. He also ran an in-person CPD session with my Geography team, offering advice and providing answers to questions we had about elements of the geography curriculum. The support offered is invaluable.


What Eduqas resources have you found most useful in the classroom?

The website has a lot of very useful resources, but the past papers section of the WJEC/Eduqas secure site is essential. It means that I can use example questions with my students in lessons and refer to mark schemes with them.

The CPD session resources are also incredibly useful, especially where example answers are used to show how marks are awarded.

Finally, the component 3 fieldwork resources are also very useful in helping prepare students for their fieldwork tasks.

Have you taken part in any of our Professional Learning/CPD courses? If so, were they useful, and what were the benefits of taking part?

Yes, I regularly attend the yearly post-examination CPD training in London, always held in person. I have also attended examiner training (when I have examined GCSE papers).

What would you say to other schools/colleges considering switching to Eduqas for your qualification?

I would highly recommend switching to Eduqas Geography. The content in the curriculum, the topics offered, and the support provided offer reassurance to my team as well as to my students.